World

European G20 Nations united on Paris climate change accord says Merkel

Demonstrators of the Avaaz campaign protest against the climate policy of US president Donald Trump as they wear masks of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, French president Emmanuel Macron, German chancellor Angela Merkel, Chinese president Xi Jinping and European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, from left, yesterday. Picture by Michael Sohn, Associated Press
Demonstrators of the Avaaz campaign protest against the climate policy of US president Donald Trump as they wear masks of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, French president Emmanuel Macron, German chancellor Angela Merkel, Chinese president Xi Jinping Demonstrators of the Avaaz campaign protest against the climate policy of US president Donald Trump as they wear masks of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, French president Emmanuel Macron, German chancellor Angela Merkel, Chinese president Xi Jinping and European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, from left, yesterday. Picture by Michael Sohn, Associated Press

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the European G20 participants are united behind the Paris climate accord despite the American decision to pull out of the deal.

Speaking after meetings with her counterparts from France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Norway, and EU representatives, Ms Merkel said she "regrets" the US decision but that the European G20 participants are "united" in their support for the agreement.

Following her comments, French President Emmanuel Macron said the fight against climate change would feature at the July 7-8 summit in Hamburg, saying "we will clearly reaffirm our very strong commitment to the Paris accords... with at least the hope that one or another will be brought to reason and can follow us".

Ms Merkel said European countries will work to find "joint solutions" with the US on climate change and other issues during the summit.

Mr Macron added that "it is no use isolating a state".